Bent torque rod

ABSTRACT

A torque rod assembly for use in a vehicle suspension system, the torque rod assembly comprising a torque rod, which is preferably V-shaped. The torque rod has a first arm portion and a second arm portion, each arm portion having an end. A bend portion is disposed between the first and second arm portions, the arm portions being disposed at an angle with respect to each other. The bend portion, disposed between the first and second arm portions, is pivotably mounted to an axle. The ends of the torque rod are pivotably mounted to the vehicle frame.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/521,521 filed Mar. 8, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to torque rods, and moreparticularly to a bent torque rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Torque rods are utilized in vehicle suspension systems to absorbthe high stresses generated during vehicle acceleration anddeceleration. Most conventional torque rods are straight and areutilized in pairs, one pair of torque rods connecting an axle to thevehicle frame. The utilization of such straight paired torque rods isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,320. Each torque rod is typicallyattached at a first to the axle and at a second end to a cross-memberextending between the rails of the vehicle's frame. The first ends ofthe torque rods which are mounted to the axle are positioned proximateto each other, the torque rods extending outwardly therefrom and awayfrom each other, the second ends of the torque rods mounted to thevehicle frame being spaced apart from each other. The position of thetorque rods is key to the proper alignment of the vehicle's wheels. Asthe suspension system is subjected to use, repeated adjustment of thetorque rods is required.

[0004] Although there are a wide variety of torque rods available foruse in a vehicle, such torque rods are intended for use in pairs. Theseconventional torque rods must be installed and adjusted individually,requiring a significant amount of labor. Thus there remains a need for atorque rod which minimizes the costs associated with installation andmaintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention relates to a torque rod assembly for use ina vehicle suspension system, the torque rod assembly comprising a torquerod having two ends, and a bend portion disposed between ends. Thetorque rod has a first and second arm portion which are preferablydisposed at an angle with respect to each other. The bend portion of thetorque rod may be pivotably mounted to a vehicle axle by a variety ofmeans. In the preferred embodiment, a bracket assembly is positionedabout the bend portion of the torque rod. The bracket assembly isoperative to mechanically couple the torque rod to the axle and permitthe torque rod to pivot with respect to the axle about the bend portion.The bracket assembly preferably comprises a bearing ring which ismechanically connected to the bend portion of the torque rod. An outerbracket, mounted about the bearing ring, pivotably engages the bearingring to permit the bearing ring and the torque rod to pivot within theouter bracket. The outer bracket is mechanically coupled to the axle bybolts, screws, welding or the like. Alternately, a ball joint may beformed about the torque rod at the bend portion. In such an embodiment,the ball joint is pivotably mounted to the axle by any of a variety ofavailable bearings. The ends of the torque rod are pivotably connectedto the vehicle frame. In the preferred embodiment, the torque rod endsare pivotably mounted to a cross-member which extends between theparallel frame rails of the vehicle.

[0006] In the preferred embodiment, the torque rod is V-shaped orU-shaped. Although the angle between the two arm portions may varywidely, the angle preferably ranges between forty degrees and sixtydegrees, although angles of more than sixty or less than forty degreesmay be utilized. In the most preferred embodiment, the angle between thefirst arm portion and the second arm portion is 55 degrees.

[0007] Other objects, advantages and applications of the presentinvention will be made clear by the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment of the invention. The description makes referenceto drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle suspension system;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a view of the torque rod assembly utilized in thevehicle suspension system shown in FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bearing assembly shown inFIG. 2 taken along lines 3-3;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a view of an alternate embodiment of the bearingassembly; and

[0012]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bearing assembly shown inFIG. 4 taken along lines 5-5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] The present invention is a torque rod assembly for use in avehicle suspension system. As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle suspensionsystem 30 comprises a vehicle frame 32 having a first frame rail 34 anda second frame rail 36. Two axles 38, 40 are provided. Two cross-members42, 44 are provided, the cross-members extending between the first framerail 34 and second frame rail 36. The cross-members 42, 44 aremechanically mounted to the vehicle frame 32 in a conventional manner.

[0014] The present invention is a torque rod assembly for use in such avehicle suspension system, the torque rod assembly 10 being shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The torque rod assembly 10 shown therein comprises atorque rod 12 which, in preferred embodiments, is V-shaped or U-shaped.The torque rod 12 has a first arm portion 16 and a second arm portion20. A bend at portion 22 is disposed between the first arm portion 16and the second arm portion 20. The first arm portion 16 terminates in afirst and 14 the second arm portion 20 terminates in a second and 18eighteen. The ends 14, 18, are pivotably mounted to the cross-member 42or 44. In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the ends 14, 18are pivotably mounted to plates 48, and 46 respectively. Plate 46 ismounted to the second frame rail, the plate 48 is mounted to the firstframe rail by conventional methods. The ends 14 and 18 of the torque rod12 may be pivotably mounted to the frame of the vehicle in a variety ofways.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle having two axles would utilized twotorque rods of the present invention. As both torque rods are mounted inthe suspension system 30 of the vehicle, only one torque rod assemblywill be described in detail.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the bent portion 22 of the torque rod ispivotably mounted to the axle 38. The bent portion 22 may be mountedthereto by a variety of ways. Preferably, the torque rod 12 is mountedthereto by a bracket assembly 24, which is depicted in FIG. 3. Thebracket assembly 24 includes a bearing ring 26, which is mechanicallyconnected to the bent portion of the torque rod. An auto bracket 28which pivotably engages the bearing ring so as to permit the bearingring and the torque rod to pivot within the auto bracket, ismechanically coupled to the axle. The auto bracket may be mechanicallycoupled to the axle by a variety of means, such as bolting, welding andthe like.

[0017] The bent portion of the torque rod is pivotably mounted to theaxle via a bracket assembly, the bracket assembly being operative tomechanically couple the torque rod to the axle and permit the torque rodto pivot with respect to the axle about the bent portion.

[0018] In an alternate embodiment, a ball joint 50 as shown in FIG. 5,may be integrally formed with the torque rod 12 or mechanicallyconnected to the torque rod 12 and the bend portion. A bearing assembly52 may be utilized to pivotably mount the torque rod 12 and ball joint50 to the axle 38. As depicted in FIG. 4, the bearing assembly 52preferably includes a lower portion 58 and an upper portion 56. Theupper portion 56 and lower portion 58 are mechanically connected to eachother via a pair of bolts 54. The lower portion 58 and upper portion 56of the bearing assembly 52 are formed so that a circular bearing 60 maybe held between the upper portion 56 and lower portion 58 of the bearingassembly 52. The bearing 60 is configured so that the ball joint 50 willfit within the interior cavity of the bearing, the ball 50 free to pivotwithin the interior cavity of the bearing 60. With the ball joint 50pivotably enclosed within bearing 60 and bearing 60 mounted between thelower portion 58 and upper portion 56 of the bearing assembly 52, thebend portion 22 of the torque rod 12 may be pivotably mounted to theaxle 38 by mechanically connected the lower portion 58 of the bearingassembly 52 to the axle 38. The lower portion 58 may be mechanicallyconnected by a variety of means to the bracket assembly.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment, the first arm portion 16 and secondarm portion 20 are disposed at an angle alpha with respect to eachother, as shown in FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment, the angle alpharanges between forty degrees and sixty degrees, although angles lessthan forty degrees and greater than sixty degrees may be utilized in thepresent invention. Most preferably, the angle alpha is approximately 55degrees.

Any Preferred Materials for the Torque Rod?

[0020] Having described the various embodiments of the present inventionwith reference to the accompanying figures, it will be appreciated thatvarious changes and modifications can be made without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A torque rod assembly comprising: a torque rod having afirst end, a second end and a bend portion disposed between the firstand second ends; means for pivotably mounting the bend portion of thetorque rod to an axle so that the torque rod is pivotable with respectto the axle; and means pivotably mounting the first and second ends to avehicle frame.
 2. The torque rod assembly of claim 1 wherein the torquerod is substantially V-shaped.
 3. The torque rod assembly of claim 1wherein the means for pivotably mounting the bend portion of the torquerod to an axle comprises a bracket assembly positioned about the bendportion of the torque rod, the bracket assembly being operative tomechanically couple the torque rod to an axle and permit the torque rodto pivot with respect to the axle about the bend portion.
 4. The torquerod assembly of claim 3 wherein the bracket assembly comprises: abearing ring mechanically connected to the bend portion of the torquerod; and an outer bracket pivotably engaging the bearing ring so as topermit the bearing ring and the torque rod to pivot within the outerbracket, the outer bracket being mechanically coupled to the axle. 5.The torque rod assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for pivotablymounting the first and second ends to a vehicle frame comprise means forpivotably mounting the first and second ends of the torque rod to across-member mechanically connected to the vehicle frame.
 6. The torquerod assembly of claim 1 further comprising a ball joint mechanicallyconnected to the torque rod at the bend portion, and wherein the meansfor pivotably mounting the bend portion of the torque rod to an axlecomprises means for pivotably mounting the ball joint to the axle.
 7. Atorque rod assembly comprising: a substantially V-shaped torque rodhaving a first end, a second end and a bend portion disposed between thefirst and second ends; and a bracket assembly positioned about the bendportion of the torque rod, the bracket assembly being operative tomechanically couple the torque rod to an axle and permit the torque rodto pivot with respect to the axle about the bend portion, the bracketassembly comprising a bearing ring mounted to the bend portion of thetorque rod and an outer bracket pivotably engaging the bearing ring soas to permit the bearing ring and the torque rod to pivot within theouter bracket, the outer bracket mechanically coupled to the axle.
 10. Atorque rod assembly comprising: a torque rod having a first arm portionand a second arm portion, the first arm portion disposed at an anglerelative to the second arm portion; and means for pivotably mounting thebend portion of the torque rod to an axle so that the torque rod ispivotable with respect to the axle.
 11. The torque rod assembly of claim10 wherein the angle between the first arm portion and the second armportion ranges between 40° and 60°.
 12. The torque rod assembly of claim11 wherein the angle is 55°.
 13. In a vehicle suspension systemcomprising a vehicle frame, at least one axle, and at least onecross-member mechanically connected to the vehicle frame, theimprovement comprising: a torque rod having a first arm portion, asecond arm portion and a bend portion disposed between the first andsecond arm portions, the first arm portion being disposed at an anglewith respect to the second arm portion, both arm portions beingpivotably connected to the cross-member, the bend portion beingpivotably connected to the axle.
 15. The vehicle suspension system ofclaim 14, the torque rod being substantially V-shaped.
 16. The vehiclesuspension system of claim 14, the angle between the first arm portionand the second arm portion ranges between 40° and 60°.
 17. The torquerod assembly of claim 16 wherein the angle is 55°.